Sunday, April 26, 2009

Bonnevilles, Lasagne & Floor Refinishing

The light suddenly turned red and I came to a stop behind the long, wide, maroon car. It made me smile because I'd known cars like that in another life, in another city, in another time. What suddenly caught my eye was the soft blue license plate declaring it an "ANTIQUE". What? That couldn't be an antique because my first car, a 1959 Chevy Impala, was a lot older than this car. It even made Life Magazine's Top 10 List of the worst looking cars ever...with that v shaped rear, red/white paint job, no power steering and 3 blocks long...what were they thinking? And if I'm a lot older than that Bonneville that probably means that I'm an antique too. Certainly not a compliment or even acceptable...just ask anyone that knows me. Then the light turned green, my mind snapped back to the present and I focused on the next thing...my floor.

Within days of moving to Bradenton in 1999, my late husband Rea & I bought a 1910 cottage in the newly declared Village of the Arts, which would become Bonni Bakes. It was the third house we renovated during our marriage. From day one we both hated the ugly carpeting covering the floor of the enclosed front porch. One day we gleefully ripped up the carpeting and were horrified to see craggy 3-D mounds of glue sitting atop badly scratched battleship gray painted floors. No professional was willing to gum up their equipment, so we never scraped the floor and went on to Plan B. The natural rattan floor covering was a foot short in width. Rea spent almost an entire day hand-stitching a 12" wide panel to make it fit our odd-sized room. His handiwork lasted longer than the rattan. I was determined to restore that floor and finally I found someone willing to dissolve and scrape off the glue by hand. Over the weekend Michael and I did the rest. And the lasagne? In order to paint a border around the room (covering the part of the floor the sander couldn't reach), it turns out that a box of dry lasagne is exactly the right width of the border. Who needs a ruler when pasta will do? Check out the transformation the next time you're at Bonni Bakes...it's dazzling.

This would be a particularly good week to stop by since Steph is hosting A Traditional Ethiopian Dinner tonight 4/28 at 5:30 & 7:30. The next one won't be until May 12th, call 746-6647 for reservations. Amy welcomes you to her Southern Comfort Supper Club this Wednesday evening between 5:30 & 8:30. With entree choices of Roast Sirloin, Cajun Shrimp & Grits, Chicken Pot Pie or Bourbon Glazed Pork it will be hard to pick just one. For details and reservations call Amy at 266-4665.

One last thing. On Saturday May 9th the Village of the Arts will be throwing a party for the entire community, called Arts Alive. Over 100 styrofoam sculptures, called Funky Men, will be on display (done by Manatee County art classes). Each gallery will have free interactive art experiences for you to participate in...appropriate for all ages. Bonni Bakes will have our artist friend Karen out front teaching you how to paint on rocks and turn them into works of art. WE STILL NEED SOME VOLUNTEERS TO MAN WATER STATIONS (selling bottles of water, our only fundraiser). IF YOU WANT TO SPEND A FEW HOURS ENJOYING THE AMBIANCE & HELPING US BRING ART TO MORE CHILDREN, PLEASE CALL BONNI AT 746-6647.

We're winding up April's lunches with Amy's Southern cuisine on Tuesday; Steph's French farmhouse on Wednesday and her Turkish table on Thursday. No need to scream "May Day" 'cause Bonni has Friday & Saturday covered with New York City favorites. The answer to Life's great question "What's cooking at Bonni Bakes this week?" starts here:
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Tues April 28 Amy’s SOUTHERN COMFORT Menu served 11-2

Shrimp n' Grits $9
Large Gulf Shrimp swimmin' in a kicked up garlic cream sauce and ladled over hot
Cheese Grit Casserole + choice of side dish

Bradentucky Boil $7
Collard greens, cabbage, onions, spicy smoked sausage, carrots, red potatoes and cob corn.
Slow cooked in a hearty chicken and ham hock broth + choice of side dish

Roasted Broccoli n' Swamp Cabbage Salad $8
Garlic Roasted Broccoli, Heart of Palm & Artichoke served on a bed of crisp romaine lettuce, w/ fresh tomato, sugar roasted pecans, maple bacon & sweet Valdalia onion vinaigrette

Roast Pork Po' Boy $8
Served on a toasted hoagie roll topped with caramelized sweet onions and smoked provolone cheese served with apple cider au jus for dippin' + choice of side dish

Cracker Mac n' Cheese Combo $8
A generous portion of soul soothin' oven baked 3 cheese elbow macaroni served with your choice of 2 side dishes

Roasted Chicken Salad Sandwich $8
Topped with crisp maple bacon, lettuce, tomato and served on a toasted whole wheat roll & choice of side.

Side Dishes $3
Bradentucky Boil, Cheese Grit Casserole, Cracker Mac n' Cheese, Swamp Apple Slaw

Key Lime Pie Squares $3
Take a slice with you.....'cause you know you'll crave it later!

Cans of Soda or Bottled Spring Water $1
Sweet (or not) Louisiana Iced Tea or Pink Lemonade (Free Refills) $2

TAKE-OUT AVAILABLE, call 746-6647....
CASH ONLY, NO CREDIT CARDS
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Wed April 29 Steph’s FRENCH Menu served 11-2

Fish Soup Provencal: Fish, white wine, potatoes, onions, tomatoes, red and yellow peppers simmered with fresh herbs from our garden with a touch of cream, served with home made French bread. $4

Cheddar Potato Soup: V Potatoes, onions simmered in vegetable stock, blended with cream and cheddar cheese, served with French bread. $4

Tossed Salad: V Mixed salad greens, tomato and carrots from my organic garden, tossed with vinaigrette, served with home made French bread. $4 Add chicken $2

Spinach, Caramelized Onion, and Feta Quiche: V Fresh free range organic eggs whisked with spinach, onions and feta cheese, light cream baked in pie dough, served with French bread. $4

Goat Cheese, Roasted Garlic and Tomato Croutes: V Toasted French bread smeared with roast garlic and goat cheese spread, topped with home grown organic tomatoes. $4

Choose two: pick 2 items from above. $7.50

French Baguette: Home baked fresh French bread. Take home a loaf! $3

V indicates vegetarian
Beverages:
Coffee or Hot Tea $1.50
Iced Tea $1.50
Coke, Sprite, Diet Coke, Bottled Water $1.00

Desserts
Vanilla Cream-Filled Éclairs $3.50
Strawberry Tart $3.50
Chocolate Chip Cookies $1.25

TAKE-OUT AVAILABLE, call 746-6647
CASH/LOCAL CHECK, NO CREDIT CARDS
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Thur April 30 Steph’s TURKISH Menu served 11-2


Lentil Lemon Soup: V A traditional lentil soup with spinach, mint and lemon, served with Pita bread. $4

Turkish Salad: V Mixed salad greens from my organic garden, red beans, tomato, mint, parsley, with lemon-mustard-olive oil dressing served with Pita bread. $4 Add chicken $2

Turkish Zucchini Pancakes: V Zucchini, feta cheese, walnuts and fresh herbs fried golden brown served with cucumber sauce n the side. $4

Baba Ghanoush: V Roasted eggplant pureed with tahini. lemon and garlic served with a dollop of roasted red pepper sauce and Pita bread. $4

Choose two: pick 2 items from above. $7.50

Lamb Burger Pita: Seasoned ground lamb grilled stuffed into Pita bread with home grown organic lettuce, tomato and topped with cucumber sauce. $6

V indicates vegetarian

Beverages:
Coffee or Hot Tea $1.50
Iced Tea $1.50
Coke, Sprite, Diet Coke, Bottled Water $1.00

Desserts
Baklava $3.50
Chocolate Chip Cookies $1.25
TAKE-OUT AVAILABLE, call 746-6647 CASH/LOCAL CHECK, NO CREDIT CARDS
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Fri & Sat MAY 1 & 2 Bonni’s NYC Menu served 11-2

Sweet Potato Bourbon Bisque
Fresh roasted sweet potato, assorted veggies, chicken stock & a hearty splash of Bourbon, simmered until smooth & mellow. Served with a homemade Cranberry Cinnamon Twist $4


Ses Salinas Salad (V)
Mixed organic greens, cucumber, tomato, red onion, Spanish olives & Feta cheese, served with Bonni’s Honey Dijon Vinaigrette $4

Chicken added to your salad $2

That N.Y.C. Salad (V)
Organic baby greens, cranberries, crisp apple, goat cheese, caramelized nuts & red onion. Served with our Raspberry Poppyseed Dressing $7.50


Pick Two: Bowl of Soup, House Salad OR A Stromboli* $7.50
*Florentine (spinach/tomato) Roast Veggies or NEW Mexican Chicken


HANDMADE 8” INDIVIDUAL PIZZA (vegan available on request)

Naked Cheese mozzarella, red sauce, parmesan, fresh oregano (V) $6
New York mozzarella, pepperoni, red sauce, parmesan, fresh oregano $6
Mahon mozzarella, spinach, tomato, red onion, red sauce, oregano (V) $7
Margherita mozzarella, red sauce, tomato, parmesan, basil, olive oil (V) $7
Chinese Chicken hoisin, roast garlic, chicken, broccoli, mozzarella, scallions $7

Dessert
Large crunchy cookie (ask for today’s flavors) (V) $1.25
Chocolate Orgasm Cookies, an ecstatic chocolate experience (V) $4.50/pkg
Key Lime Pie made with FRESH REAL KEY LIMES (V) $3
Homemade Muffins (V) $1.75

Drinks

Bottled Spring Water, cans of soda $1
Brewed Raspberry Iced Tea or Hot Tea (assorted bags) $1.50
Our House Blend of Half/Caff Flavored Coffee $1.50
(V) = Vegetarian
TAKE-OUT AVAILABLE, call 746-6647 CASH/LOCAL CHECK, NO CREDIT CARDS

Hugs from the kitchen,
Bonni

2 comments:

  1. That’s very nice,Thank for nice info,We are also introducing a Floor sanding company in uk.Here, there are also Wood Floor Repairs.and floor refinishing

    ReplyDelete
  2. Good one guys! Do you mind if we quote/reference you sometime? We'll be blogging about Vancouver hardwood refinishing fairly often.

    Hardwood Refinishing Services

    ReplyDelete